Method and machine for making fasteners



G. SUNDBAC-K 2,001,591

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Filed July 13, 1929 l3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

May 14, 1935.

G. SUNDBACK METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Fi1 ed July 13, 1929 13 Shee ts-Sheet 2 VENTOR.

jiliiiifii:

HUN

ATTORNEY May 14, 19,35.

' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS G. SUNIIDBACK 2,001,591

13 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed July 15, 1929 May 14', 1935. I l e. SUNDBACK 9 5 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS I ori inal Filed'Juiy 1.3. 1929 1:5 Sheets-Sheet 4 May 14, I935. GISUNDBACK 2,001,591

METHOD AND MACHINE. FOR MAKING FASTENERS OriginaLFiled July 13, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 v I riwmm .erromv May 14, 1935.- s. SUNDBA CK 7 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Filed July 13, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 'mbmv May ,14, 1935. G. SUNDBACK METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS 1s Sheets-She et 7- Original Filed July 13, 1929 arrows? May 14,1935. G. SUNDBACK 2,001,591

7 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS I Original Filed July 13, 1929 13 Sheets-Shea}, a

May 14, I935. e. SUN DBACK 2,001,591

METHOD AND MMIHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Filed July 13, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR.

f BY

ATTORNEY- May 14, 1935. a. SUNDBACK 2,001,591

' METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKiNG FASTENERS Original Filed Jul 13, 1929 she ts-sheet 1o YATUTORNEY May 14, 1 935. /G. QS UNDBACK Q 2,0

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Filed July 13, 1929 13 Sheets-Sheet ll 126 Isa 1| A TTORNEY May l4, 1935. G. SUND BACK 1,

4 METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS I I Original Fil ed July is, 1929 13 sh et -sheet" 2 Q NVENTOR. ZLQWA A TTORNEY May14, l935-.: GY.SUNDBACK v w 2,001,591

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Original Filed July 13, 1929 13 sheets-sheet 1s INVENTOR. 5 BY ATTORNEY Patented May 14, 1935 PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MAKING FASTENERS Gideon Sundback, Meadville, Pa., assignor .to Hookless Fastener Company, Meadville, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 13, 1929, Serial No. 378,104. Renewed March 14, 1934. In Canada February 44 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making fastener stringers and is an improvement upon the machines disclosed in my United States Patents #1,331,884, of Feb. 24, 1920, #1,434,857

of NOV. '7, 1922, and $7 1,467,015 of Sept. 4, 1923.

The machine illustrated herein is particularly adapted for forming fastener members of the type disclosed in my United States Patent #l,219,881, of March 20, 1917, and aflixing them to the corded fabric tape. These fastener members have compressible clamping jaws and a recess and projection, and are arranged on a pair of stringers so as to alternately interlock through a slider mounted on both stringers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide improved means for making fastener stringers either straight or curved, or with both straight and curved portions in the same plane, and with any desired spacing between adjacent fastener members.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved means for adjusting the punch forming the fastener members; to provide an improved tension device for feeding the tape to which the fastener members are to be attached; to provide improved means for holding the fastener members and the tape in theproper position with respect to each other while the fastener members are being clamped upon the tape; and to operate the forming, feeding and attaching mechanisms co-ordinately at a greater speed than heretofore, with a resulting increase in output and a material saving in the cost of production.

In carrying out the invention, various novel combinations andsub-combinations in the forming, feeding, ten'sioning and setting mechanisms are employed, all of which will be described in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is an end view of a machine embodying the invention, the upper portion thereof being broken away;

Fig. 1a is an end view of the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the tape feed movement;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 44 of Fig. 3; a

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, the upper portion thereof being broken away; V

Fig. 5a is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 showing the upper portion of the tapefeed movement;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing details of the cutting punch slide, and of the metal feed taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. '7;

Fig. '7 is a. top view of the cutting punch slide;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the cutting and pressure plates;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 15 showing the means for adjusting the forming punch and the tension device for holding the fastener members in position while 10 being clamped upon the tape;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing details of the cutting punch slide taken along the lines l0-i0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a side view of the means for adjusting 16 the forming punch;

Fig. 12 is a detail illustrating a portion of the adjusting meansshown in Fig. 11

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line i3-i3 of Fig. 11;

20 Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line i l-44 of Fig. 2, showing details of the forming P Fig. 15 is a plan view of the mechanisms shown in Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is an enlarged top view showing a fastener member positioned in the forming die;

Fig. 17 is a sectional side view showing the means for revolving the forming die and the means for clamping the fastener members on 30 the tape;

Fig. 18 is a plan view showing a modified form of the tension device illustrated in Fig. 9 for holding the fastener members in position while being clamped upon the tape;

Fig. 19 is a section taken of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a section taken on the line "-20 of Fig. 18;

Fig. 21 is a section taken on the line 2i-.2l

of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a detail view of the tape tension device and feed roll for feeding the tape;

Fig. 23 is a plan view of the tape tension device shown in Fig. 22; a

Fig. 24 is a section taken on the line 24-24 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a section taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24; 4

Fig. 26 is a plan view of a portion of the machine illustrating the mechanisms for making curved stringers; I

Fig. 27 is a sectional end view showing details of the mechanisms for making curved stringers;

punch 15 35 on the line li-il v guide 4 and cutting die 5, Fig.

. ing of such Fig. 29 shows a stringer having straight and curvedportions produced by diflerent settings of the machine.

In Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 9 of the drawings, I is a wire of channel shaped cross-section, usually of non-rusting alloy, and so rolled or drawn as to have the sides of the channel of such sections constitute the clamping jaws of the fastener members without any further operation thereon. This wire unwinds from reel 2, Fig. 1, and is fed step-wise-by friction rolls 6. The rolls 3 are grooved to fit the shape of the wire and are mounted on shafts 5 and I and connected by gears. The friction between the rolls and the wire is adjusted by the pressure of spring 9 through the screw I II. The movement of the rolls is effected by the eccentric II on shaft I2 oscillating the rocker i3 pivotally mounted on shaft 5 and. carrying a paw. The latter acts on the ratchet I5a. also mounted on shaft 5 and thereby effects an intermittent movement of the metal strip I. The amount of this feed constitutes the thickness of a fastening member blank and is predetermined in proportion to the spacmembers on the tape and to the required strength of the jaw members, and can be readily changed where desired without involving waste. Referring to Figs. 6 and '7, a cutting or shearing knife I5 is provided with its cutting edge preferably shaped to partially conform to the blank strip I. table 21, and is moved back and forth by eccentrics I1 and I1a on shaft I2 through connecting rods I9 and I9, both of which are fastened to shaft rocking in bracket 2I,"which bracket is attached to slide I5. The strip blank I is so positioned relatively to the knife l5 that thelatter cuts from the jaw and toward the body end so as not to distort the jaws in cutting, and also so that the jaws will be in proper relation to the tape when clamped, without requiring the blank member to be turned around, and without getting out of control. Attached to extensions of slide I5 on each side of knife I5 are spring plates 22 pivoting on 23 constituting a presser foot mechanism, and acted on by compression springs 24. The knife I5is adjusted laterally by set screw 25, in desired proximity to plates '22, and retains its position relatively to the plates during the forward and back movements of the slide I5. The slide I5 has the adjusting screw Referring to Figs. 6, 7 and bracket 25 and table 21 is the column 29 which carries the forming dies 30. The spiralgear 32 on shaft 34. driven by a suitable gear on shaft I2, acts as a crank plate and through the terminals 35 and 35 connected by turnbuckle 31 reciprocates the rocker arm 35. The latter carries pawl 39 which acts on the ratchet 49 fastened by pins to the column 29. As the spiral gear 32 17, revolving in the revolves the pawl 39 catching in the teeth of ratchet 40 intermittently revolves the column 29 .and brings in rotation the forming dies 30 into the positions illustrated in Fig. '7.

Referring to Figs. 7, and 17, 42 is a slide mounted in the table 21 with its front end shaped to fit into a slot 43 in column 29. This slide is operated through the lever- 44 mounted-pivotally at 45 in bracket 45 by the single faced cam 41 revolving with shaft 48 on one hand and comstroke of pawl 39, or accidental movement, by

3 through the This knife is mounted in slide IS, on.

pression spring 49 on the other. When one of the dies 30 reaches the position shown in Fig. 16, corresponding slot 43 comes into line with the tapered end of slide 42, the spring 49 moves the slide 42 forward into slot 43 as governed by the cam 41 and thereby locks the column 29 and dies 30 in position. The look is released when the cam 41 revolves sufflciently to withdraw the slide 42 from the slot 43 against the pressure of spring The column 29 is held against theback brake H. A hand wheel 53 is provided for turning the column 29 in setting or adjusting the dies 35 when the machine is not in motion.

Referring to Figs. 6, '7, and 17, while the column 29 is in motion and one of the dies 30 is approaching the position directly opposite the cutting knife I5 and die 5 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the slide I5 starts the forward movement toward the column 29. The blank strip I is fed up with its end extending above the cutting die 5 by an amount equaling the peripheral travel of rolls 3 during a single movement thereof, or the thickness of a fastener member. The cutting knife I5 on its way. forward now shears off the projecting end of blank strip I against the edge of cutting die 5. The plates 22, the operating end of which have been lifted by the blank strip I as it was fed up, are by action of the springs 24 holding the end of the metal strip to prevent displacement or ejection of the fastening member blank at the moment the cutting operation is completed. Likewise the plates 22 continue to hold the blank flat against the top of the cutting die as it is next 'fed forward toward the column 29 by further movement of cutting knife I5. As the column 29 stops, and the blank propelled by the cutting knife I5 on slide I5 nears the die 30 in the column 29, the locking slide 42 enters slot 43, Fig. 17, to lock the column and dies 30 in position.

In this manner the sheared fastener members 54 are propelled one by one into the dies 30 in position to be operated on by the forming punch 55. The punch 55 is attached to a slide 55 which is mounted in bearing 51 and receives its vertical up and down motion through lever 55. The lever 58 is operated by the action of cam 59 which in turn is driven by main shaft I2. The cam 59 is adjustable by means of sleeve and adjusting screws 5|. Cam 59 acts on roller 52 which is mounted in slide 53 which imparts an up and down motion to lever 58 which is keyed to shaft 54, mounted on bracket or bearing 55 which is secured to the table 21 by bolts 55. The upward motion of lever 58 imparts a corresponding downward motion to arm 51 of lever 55, which gives slide 55 its downward thrust, causing the forming punch 55 to give the fastener member 54 the desired form with a recess on one side and a projection on the opposite side. The slide 55 is returned to its upward position by the action of compression spring 55 mounted within the slide (Fig. 10)

In order to enable the forming punch 55 to be adjusted both laterally and. transversely, I provide two key members 59 and 10 which are suitably mounted in the bracket 55 and abutting against bearing 51. Key member 59 is adjusted by means of screws 1I and12, Fig. 15, screw 1I being for the purpose of downward adjustment.

and screw 12 being for the purpose of upward adjustment. The member 59 is wedge-shaped in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 12, and when the forming punch either toward the top or bottom of the sheet in Fig. 15. Screws TH and 72 accomplish this upward and downward motion of the key member 89 by abutment against bracket 55.

The second key member 10 is slidably mounted in a slot H3 in the key member 69. The slot I3 is angled as shown in Fig. 11. By reference to Fig. 13 it will be seen that a part of the wedge ll! projects outwardly, when viewed in cross section, overlapping'the surface of the member Ed and rising above the surface of the angled portion of key member ill which rides in the slot l3. This outwardly projecting portion of member it is arranged with its edges parallel to the side edges of member 69. The member Hi is adjusted upwardly and downwardly by action of screws 15 and '18 respectively. It will be seen that the adjustment vertically of key member It within key member $9 will,'by reason of the angled portion of member iii, which rides in the slot it, cause a transverse adjustment of key member 69 which carries the bearing 51, the outwardly projecting portion of member 30 being adapted to ride in a corresponding slot in bearing 5?] which is secured to bracket 85 by means of screws if, as shown in Fig. 15. It will thus be seen that the transverse movement of the key member t9, either toward the right or left in Fig. 15, caused by the vertical movement of member m will impart transverse movement to forming punch 55. Vertical adjustment of the forming punch 55 is provided for by means of adjusting screws 18 and lock nut 19 mounted thereon.

As the fastener member blank 54 moves into the forming die the forming punch 55 starts on its downward stroke and while the fastener memher is held in position and confined on all sides by the cutting knife 55, plates 22 and the forming die 31! the forming of the recess and projection of the member is completed. Upon the upward stroke of the punch 55 the locking slide 32 withdraws from the slot #53 and slide it draws back the plates 22 and cutting punch 55. The fastener member stays in the die 3G, which is now free to move with the column 29 as it starts its rotary movement in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7. When the slide I6 reaches its extreme outer position with the cutting knife l5 returned to its initial position, Fig. 8, the rolls 3 feed the blank strip i, whereupon the operations are completed.

The fastener members 54, thus formed, are carried in the dies 30 by the revolving column 29, and as the die stops diametrically opposite the place where the fastener member was placed in the die, the jaws of the fastener member are clamped around the -corded edge of the tape 80 which is fed upward parallel to the blank strip 4. As shown in Fig. 1'7, the two clamping tools 3! are connected with and operated through clamps 82, levers 63 which pivot on the shaft 84 in brackets 35, and double faced cams 85. The latter are keyed to shaft 48. The clamping tools 81 press the jaws of the fastener member together on the corded edge portion of tape 86.

It is necessary that the members M be securely held in position in the forming die while being clinched on the tape. In order to ensure that the members 54 be so held in position I provide tension punch 88 which is adapted to press upon the member 54 while it is held in the forming die 3D. The tension punch 88 is mounted in slide 89 which is mounted in bracket 65, and receives its downward vertical motion through arm 90 which is keyed'to shaft 54, and its upward motion through compression spring iii. Tension punch 88 has a downwardly projecting portion 92 of the same size and form as is carried by forming punch 55, which downwardly projecting portion In order to provide for adjustment of the ten- Q sion punch 88 in a lateral direction, I provide two adjusting screws Q3 and adjusting slide M. No adjustment for the tension punch is necessary in transverse direction but sufficient play is permitted between slide 89 and key as which is inserted in bearing to prevent the slide 893 from twisting or swinging, thus allowing the depending portion of tension punch 88 to find its proper position in the formed portion of the fastener member 5a. Tension punch 88 is adjusted vertically by means of adjusting screw as and lock nut 91.

As an alternative method of holding the fastener members in the forming dies iii! in the position where they are ready to be clamped upon the tape, I provide the devices illustrated in Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive. In Fig. 21, it will be seen that the fastener member b t is positioned in the forming die 30 ready for engagement of its jaw portions around the corded edge of fabric tape 853. In order to hold the member 5t securely in the forming die 38, I provide tension plate 98, Fig. 19, of spring metal; This plate is mounted on table 2? by means of screws 99. Tension plate 93 is formed with recessed portion N10 to allow the corded edge tape to enter into the jaw portions of the fastener members 54. In order to exert a downward pressure on plate 98, I provide a lever fill with prongs m2 adapted to ride on plate Q8. Lever it! is pivoted on shaft I93 which is held in bearing ms. Lever lill receives its up and down motion through member if: which is pivoted on shaft i M which is mounted on bearing tilt. Screw 408 is mounted on clamp me which has a reciprocating motion imparted by lever Ht and cam Hi. Clamp H39 is mounted on slide H2 which also has a reciproeating motion for the purpose of forcing the corded edge fabric tape into engagement with the jaw portions of the fastener members 54. When reciprocating clamp H19 bearing the screw 408 is moved forwardly, screw I08 imparts a forward and upward motion to member ms which in turn imparts an upward motion to the righthand end of lever I81, as viewed in Fig. 20, causing prongs sea to exert a downward pressure on.

shaft on which is mounted crank plate 202 which carries crank pin 203, which is mounted in a T slot and is adjustable radially of the main shaft 46. On crank pin 203 is suitably mounted connecting rod 204 Lever 208 is pivotally connected to connecting rod 204 at 209, Fig. 4. Lever 200 at its other end is mounted on shaft I29. Lever 208 carries substantially intermediate of its length pawl 205 which is adapted to engage in teeth of ratchet 206 and is held in engagement therewith by tension spring 201. Ratchet 206 is adapted to rotate with fixed relation to shaft I29 by the action of main drive shaft 48. Connecting rod 204 is eccentrically mounted on crank plate.202 as shown in Fig. 5. As the main shaft 48 revolves it will thus be seen that lever 208 receives an up and down motion through the action of connecting rod 204, which by the action of pawl 205 on ratchet 206 imparts a step-bystep motion to the ratchet 206, thereby rotating the shaft I29 step-by-step. Referring to Fig. 26, the feed roll I26 is threaded upon sleeve I28 and sleeve I28 is freely rotatable upon shaft I29.

The sleeve I30 is mounted on shaft I29 so that it can slide longitudinally on shaft I29, but cannot rotate with respect to shaft I29. Hence the stepby-step rotation of shaft I29 is imparted to,

sleeve I30 and is thence imparted by helical projections I3I and slots I32 to sleeve I28 and therefore to feed roll I26. Thus it will be seen that feed roll I26 receives the same step-by-step motion as imparted to ratchet 206 by feed pawl 205, thereby providing for the spacing of the fastener members 54 on the tape.

In order to allow of the manufacture of fastener stringers of varying lengths withno more than the requisite number of fastener members thereon, and to allow for a spacing of tape 'without fastener members thereon in between said predetermined lengths, I provide trip mechanism whereby the tape feed roll I26 will receive a quick clockwise movement to provide for the extra tape feed which produces the blank length of tape between two groups of fastener members. Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and ,5, I provide pawl 2I0 which is pivotally mounted on bracket 2 at 2I2, which bracket is mounted on shaft I29. Pawl 2 I0 is adapted to engage in teeth of ratchet 206 or to remain out of engagement as shown in Fig. 4. The tripping motion which imparts the quick clockwise movement to ratchet 206 is accomplished by pawl 2I0 being set in engagement with teeth of ratchet 206 by means of plunger 2I3 being thrust from its position as illustrated in Fig. 4, to the opposite position of the two notches shown at the rear end of pawl 2I0. Plunger 2 I3 is slidably mounted on lever 2 and is held in ,contact with the notches of pawl I20 by compression spring 2I5. Lever 2 I4 is pivotally mounted in bracket 2 at 2I6. An upward or downward thrust on the end of lever 2 will throw plunger 2I3 into the lower or upper notches respectively of pawl 2I0, thereby respectively causing pawl 2I0 to come into or out of engagement with ratchet 206. In order to provide for the engagement of pawl 2I0 as described I provide pin 2 I1 mounted on lever 2 I8 which is in turn mounted in the main bracket 2I9 at 220. If pin 2I1 carried by lever 2I8 is carried to the position shown at 220' (Fig. 4) and the under side of lever 2I4 rides thereover, it will be seen that plunger 2I3 will contact with the lower notch in pawl 2I0 thereby causing pawl 2I0 to engage in teeth of ratchet 206. Conversely, the raising of pin 2I1- allows the upper side of lever 214 to ride on pin 2n thus disengaging the pawl 2I0 from the teeth of ratchet 206. Bracket 2 receives a forward and reverse swinging motion through rack HI and gear 222 which is mounted on bracket 2, rack 22I being connected by connectingrod 223 to the crank pin 203.

In order to provide for fastener stringers of predetermined length I provide drum 224 which is threaded to sleeve 226 fixedly mounted in bracket 226. Drum 224 is provided with teeth 221 in which is adapted to engage pawl 220, which is pivotally mounted at 229 to bracket 230. Bracket 230 is mounted on drum 224 and is held from axial movement by bracket 2,

and is provided with two arms 232 and 233.

Bracket 230 receives a rocking motion through the action of a connecting .rod 234 and eccentric 236. Pawl 228 which is mounted on arm 232 of bracket 230 is provided with two teeth 236 and 231 which when in engagement with teeth 221 of drum 224 will impart thereto a contra-clockwise and clockwise motion mpectively. The positioning for such movement of the drum 224 of the pawl 228 is provided by plunger 236 pivotally mounted on arm 232 on pin 240. Plunger 238 is held in engagement with notchesin pawl 228 by compression. spring 239.

Referring to Fig. 3, I provide clamps 2 and 242 detachably connected to drum 224 by means of screws 243 and 244. Tripping screws 246 and 246 are carried by clamps 2 and 242 respectively and are suitably adjustable. As drum 224 revolves in a stepwise movement, tripping screw 246 will come into contact with trip lever 241, which is attached to pin 240. Pawl 220 will thereupon be thrown into reverse engagement with teeth 221 of drum 224 imparting to drum 224 a reverse movement until it moves along threaded sleeve 226 and permits 'trip screw 246 to strike against trip lever 248 whereupon the movement of drum 224 is once more reversed.

When drum. 224 is moved along sleeve 226 to its farthest position at approximately the time trip screw 246 strikes trip lever 248, trip shoe 249 carried by drum 224 contacts with tripping screw 250, which is mounted on lever 26I pivotally attached to shaft 262. When tripping screw 268 is depressed, trip lever 2I8 carrying trip pin 2" is likewise depressed through the action of lever 25I and shaft 252, thus allowing lever 2 to ride Over trip pin m as in position 220' (Fig. 4'). Pawl 2I0 is thereupon thrown into engagement with ratchet 206 and the swift movement is imparted to ratchet 206 necessary to provide for the blanking spacing of tape between the separate lengths of fastener members. As soon as trip shoe 249 has depressed and passed over trip screw 250, lever 2I0 will swing back to its original position shownin Fig. 4, whereupon lever 2 carried by bracket 2 will on its downward movement ride under said pin 2" throwing pawl 2I0 out of engagement with ratchet 206.

In order to provide for varying distances of blank tape between the stringers of fastener members, it is only necessary to provide a greater eccentricity by means of crank pin 203 thereby imparting a greater movement to rack 22 I, thereby providing for bracket 2 being carried on a greater are around ratchet 206. In order, however, that such adjustment shall not interfere with the regular spacing of the fastener memhers I provide pawl skid 263 positioned around part of the periphery of ratchet 206 and suitably attached to brackets and extending sufliciently far above the periphery of ratchet 206 to prevent pawl 205 engaging with teeth of ratchet 206, during the rocking motion imparted to it by arm 206'.

In order to provide for varying lengths of fastener stringers I provide for clamp 24I being adjustable longitudinally of drum 224 by means of adjusting screw 243. As clamp 2M is moved away from or toward clamp 242 fastener stringers will be longer or shorter respectively. Stringers of varying predetermined length can therefore be easily provided for.

Trip means I14 operating on trip swivel I15 for curved'fasteners is attached to lever 2I8, thus synchronizing the quick forward movement of both straight and curved fastener portions to provide for the blank spacing of tape between the predetermined lengths of fastener stringers.

In order to ensure an even tension on the tape 00 and consequently even spacing of the fastener members when they are clamped on the tape, I provide the devices set out in Figs. 22 to 25. The idler drum on roll H3 is revolubly mounted on shaft II 4 which is mounted in fixed relation to bracket H5. Friction members H6 and III are frictionally engaged in each side of the roll H3 and are mounted in fixed relation to shaft I I4. The member I I! is held in fixed relation to bracket II5 by means of shaft H4 the shoulder H8 of which exerts an inward pressure to hold the member H1 in close fixed abutment against bracket I I5. Shaft H4 at its intermediate portion is square in cross section, as shown in Fig. 25. The memmr H6 has an aperture which corresponds to the form of shaft H4 and is slipped over the said shaft in close relation thereto which allows member I I6 to slide longitudinally of shaft II4. Friction rings I I Hare of any suitable material such, for example, as leather, and are mounted on members H6 and II! and held in frictional engagement against the interior surface of roll H3.

In order to adjust the frictional relation of members H6 and II! to roll H3 for the purpose of imparting the desired drag or amount of tension on the movement of roll I I3, I provide compression spring I20 which is disposed on shaft I I4 and abuts against member II 6 at one end, being held in place at its opposite end by adjusting nut I2I.

In order to provide against the tape 80 slipping on the periphery of roll H3, I provide that the surface of the periphery of roll II 3 is knurled or otherwise given a rough gripping surface as shown in Fig. 23. In the same manner any suitable material such as rubber, Which would exert a frictional engagement between the periphcry of the roll and the tape would be suitable for the purpose disclosed. I hold tape 80 in close frictional engagement with the periphery of roll I I3 by providing a second roll I 22 which is adapted to exert a downward pressure on the tape 80 as it passes over roll I I3 and holds it in close frictional relation thereto. Roll I22 is mounted in any suitable manner for such purpose. but I prefer the construction illustrated in Fig. 22 whereby the roll I22 is mounted in bracket I23 attached to bracket. H5 through pivoting point or shaft I24. I provide a tension spring I25 suspended between the free end of bracket I24 and table 21 in order to force the rcll I22 down against the roll H3.

A After the fastener members are clamped on tape 80 the tape passes over feed roll or drum I26. Heretofor'e it has been the custom to make the surface of the periphery of roll I26 knurled in order to ensure tape 00 against slipping thereon. In practice, however, it has been found that the knurling on the periphery of roll I26 becomes worn and consequently allows the tape to slip, thereby occasioning an irregular feed of the tape 00 in the clamping jaw of the slide H2. This irregular feed has the effect of spacing the fastener members 54 irregularly on the tape.

To obviate this slipping of the tape on roll I26, I provide a rubber insertion I21 around the periphery of roll I26 which effectually prevents slipping of the tape.

As previously stated, the machine herein shown and described is adapted for the making of straight fastener stringers as well as fastener stringers having curves therein. By the arrangement of devices which I provide I can make fasteners either straight, curved, or having a combination of straight and curved portions in the same horizontal plane. When it is desired to effectuate a curve in a fastener this is provided for by the fastener members on the outside or concave portion of a curve being spaced farther apart than those on the inside or convex portion, as shown in Fig. 29. This different spacing of the members on the-stringers is effected by means of the devices illustrated in Figs. 26, 27 and 28 of the drawings.

In Fig. 26 the feed roll I26 is mounted on sleeve I28 which is rotatably mounted on shaft I 29. Therefore, the feed roll or drum I23 may rotate freely with relation to shaft I29. In order to impart movement to sleeve I28 and consequently to roll I26, I provide sleeve I which is mounted on shaft I29 and is capable of longitudinal but not of rotatable movement with relation to shaft I29. I provide helical projections I3I on sleeve I30 adapted to slide within the helical slots I32. It will be seen that if sleeve I30 on shaft I29 is longitudinally moved toward feed roll I26 step-wise, a rotatable movement is imparted to sleeve I20 and consequently to roll I26, in addition to thenormal rotation imparted to roll I26 by shaft I29. By this means the spacing between the fastener members as they are clamped on the tape is increased in order to provide for the outside or concave portion of a curved fastener stringer. When sleeve I30 held stationary with relation to sleeve I28 the ordinary spacing is obtained which makes a straight stringer. When sleeve I30 is longitudinally moved away from feed roll I26 there oc curs a reversal of the movement imparted to roll I26, to that which occurs when sleeve I30 is longitudinally moved toward the roll. By this means roll I26 receives a lesser axial movement than is imparted by the ordinary feed mechanisms employed in making straight stringers. In this way, the spacing between the fastener members on the tape is made less than in the case of a straight stringer, thereby providing for the inside or convex portion of a curve.

Drum I34 is rotatably mounted on sleeve I30 and is so arranged that sleeve I30 moves longitudinally with the drum I 34. Drum I 34 is threaded on sleeve I35 which is fixedly mounted on bracket I36 which in turn is mounted on table 21. When drum I34 is givenrotating motion it moves longitudinally on threaded sleeve I35, thus imparting longitudinal movement to sleeve I30. The rotatable movement of drum I34 is imparted by the action of pawl I 37 which is adapted to engage in teeth I38 of drum I34.

I34, as hereinafter explained. ,reives'a reciprocating Pawl I31 is mounted on yoke I39 by pi11I49. Pawl I31 has two points of engagement I M and I42 for'forward and reverse movement of drum and I42 of pawl I31 in teeth I38 of drum lfl'is adapted to impart a forward or reverse movement respectively to sleeve I30. V

In order to hold pawl I31 in engagement with teeth I39 of drum I34, whether in forward. reverse or neutral position, as may be desired, I provide plunger I46 which slides in slide bracket I41 and is adapted to be held in engagement with pawl I31 by compression spring I49. Slide bracket I41 is pivotally mounted at I49 to yoke I39. The operation of plunger I46 tripping pawl I31 for forward, neutral, or reverse position will be hereinafter explained.

In order to provide for the necessary spacing of fastener members on the tape in order to form stringers having both straight and curved portions therein, I provide a novel mechanism illustrated particularly in Figs. 26 and 27. To provide for the predetermined spacing and arrangement of fastener members I provide means,

whereby the hereinbefore described action of sleeve I30 through drum I34 may be accomplished and at the same time whereby at predetermined positions all operation of sleeve I30 and drum I34 may cease in order to permit the standard or ordinary spacing of members for straight fastener stringers to be accomplished. To accomplish this, I provide a revoluble table I50 which is mounted on bracket I5I by means of shaft I52 and nut I53. Table I50 rotates stepwise in a clockwise direction receiving its motion by means of ratchet I54 which, in turn, receives its motion from friction clutch I56 which is connected direct to the main shaft 49 by shaft I51 and gears I59, I59, I60 and I6I. The pawl I55 is adapted to engage in teeth of ratchet I54 in order to prevent its movement through the action of friction clutch I56 and drive shaft I51. oppositely disposed to pawl I55 with relation to table I50, I provide a second pawl I62 which is also adapted to engage in teeth of ratchet I54. It is to be understood that only one of the holding pawls I55 and I62 are engaged at any time in the teeth or ratchet I54 to limit rotatable movement, the other of the said pawls riding halfway between the teeth. It will readily be seen that if the holding pawl is released out of engagement with teeth of ratchet I54, ratchet I54 will rotate only the distance of one half tooth until the opposing pawl comes into engagement.

In order to release the holding pawl I55 or I62 as the case may be from teeth of ratchet I54, I provide cam section I63 which is mounted on bracket I64 and keyed to shaft I51 and rotates etfixed speed with shaft I51, as shown in Fig. It will thus be seen that table I50 is given a step by 'step, clockwise rotating movement.

On ,the top of table I50 close to the periphery are jmounted a series of pins I65 and I66. Likewise, disposed on the underside of table I50 are a series of.pins1 I61 and I66, whose object is to provideiforfthe'spacmg of fastener members on thetapeifor straight and curved portions as will hereafter be explained. The purpose of pins I65, I66,.v I61 and I66 is to act as a trip means for the engagement of pawl I31 in teeth I36 of drum I34. It will be understood that yoke I39 which supports pawl I31 is receiving a reciprocating motion as hereinbefore explained. When table I50 rotates until pin I65 trips trip-lever I69 which is mounted on the upper portion of sleeve I36 whichis mounted on yoke I33, and connectedto plunger I46 by pin I16, pawl I31 is thrown so that tooth. I4I comes into engagement with the teeth I39 of drum I34. By this means a forward motion isglven to drum I34 causing a forward movement in sleeve I30 and roll I26. During the period when sleeve I30 is receiving a forwardmotion feed roll I26 is also receiving a forward clockwise motion in addition to the usual clockwise motion imparted to roll I26 by the shaft I25. The fastener members are therefore being clamped to the tape with a larger spacing between them than in the standard spacing desired for straight fasteners. By this means I form the outside or concave curve of a stringer shown in Fig. 29.

When table I50 rotates until trip pin I61 passes over trip-lever "I which is secured to the under side of sleeve I39 mounted on yoke I39 pawl I31 is thrown back into its neutral position and consequently drum I34 ceases to revolve, thus spacing the fastener members on the tape as for straight stringers.

When table I50 continues its clockwise movement until trip pin I69 passes over trip-lever I1I, pawl I31 is thrown so that its tooth I42 comes into engagement with teeth I39 of drum I34 causing a reverse movement and consequently a backward movement of sleeve I30, away from sleeve I29, which causes feed roll I26 to be retarded from its ordinary spacing. By this. means the fastener members are clamped on the tape at a closer spacing than the standard distance, thus providing for the inside or convex curve of a fastener stringer, as shown in Fig. 29.

When trip pin I 66 comes into engagement with trip-lever I69 pawl I31 is again thrown into neutral position and thereupon standard spacing of fastener members on the tape once more occurs.

By reference to Fig. 27 it will be seen that trip pins I65 and I69 which throw pawl I31 from neutral into operative position are longer than trip pins I66 and I61 which throw pawl I31 from operative into neutral position.

In order to provide for predetermined lengths of straight portions of stringers, thus altering the relative position of the curved portions with relation to the straight portions of stringers, I provide the trip means I65, I66, I61 and I66 which are mounted in circular slots I12 and I13 of T- shaped cross-section on the upper and lower surfaces respectively of table I60. The trip means are adapted to engage in the T-shaped slots I12 and I13 so that they may be tightly secured therein at predetermined positions, but capable of having these positions altered. It will therefore be seen that the spacing of trip means I65, I66, I61 and I66 will determine in advance the relative position of the curves on the fastener stringers and the lengths of the straight portions of the stringers shown in Fig. 29.

In order to provide for fastener stringers of varying lengths I provide trip mechanism where-' by table I50 may receive a swift revoluble movement rather than its step-by-step movement through the actions of pawls I55 and I62, which trip movement is synchronized to accord with the trip movement of the tape over roll I26. When table I50 is thus tripped it travels to a predetermined position where the attaching of the fastener members 54 to tape 88 once more commences for the making of a new stringer. It is to be understood that table I56 is theoretically disemi-circle of table I50 which carries trip pins I66 and I68 accomplishes the purpose of forming straight portions and inside curve portions of a fastener stringer.

In order to accomplish the tripping of table I58 to synchronize with the spacing between I stringers, I provide a trip connection between the main spacing means and table I58. To accomplish this, a wire or other suitable connection I14 is attached at one end to the trip lever 218 of the tripping mechanism for spacing straight stringers. The wire I14 is attached at its opposite end to trip swivel I15 on which is mounted trip-shoe I16 which is pivoted at I11 and held in position by spring I18. Upon swivel lever I15 being tripped, trip-shoe I18 comes into engagement with lever I19 which is pivoted at I88 to bracket I5I. Lever I18 is provided with notch I8I. I82 is a pawl pivoted at I83 to bracket I5I and provided with two teeth, an upper and lower, I84 and, I85,

respectively. Tension spring I86 is provided for the purpose of holding pawl I82 in position with respect to lever I18. I also provide tension spring I81 to retain lever I15 in normal position. When trip swivel I 15 is swung by the action of wire I14, trip shoe I16 strikes against lever I19 thereby causing it to move until notch I8I is in engagement with tooth I84 of pawl I82, which holds lever I19 in an open position. Pawl I62 is brought into engagement with tooth I85 of pawl I82 by the action of cam section I63 as it revolves, contacting with pin I88 on pawl I62. By this means pawl I82 is held out of engagement with ratchet I54. It will be understood that I provide a similar trip mechanism for the purpose of operating upon pawl I55, which said pawl I55 is held out of engagement with ratchet I54 when cam section I63 has completed 180 of its revolution, after striking pin I88 of pawl I62.

When pawls I55 and I62 are thus held out of engagement with ratchet I54, ratchet I54 is free to move by the action of friction clutch I56, thereby permitting free rotatable movement of table I58. In order to bring pawls I55 and I62 once more into engagement with ratchet I54 in order once more to commence the step-wise operationof table I58 with respect to the attaching of fastener members to the stringers, I provide two pins I88 and I90 mounted on the upper surface of the ratchet I54. Pawl I82 carries an extension member I8I. When ratchet I54 rotates pin I85 will strike extension I 9| thereby causing pawl I82 to disengage from pawl I 62 and lever I19, thereby letting pawl I62 assume its normal position in engagement with ratchet I54. At the same time pin I90 strikes the corresponding extension I92 permitting pawl I55 to likewise come into engagement with ratchet I54.

In order to retain trip swivel I15 in normal position after being swung by connectingwire I14,

I provide a tension spring I93 attached to bracket I5I and trip swivel I15.

If it is desired to change the radius of the 1. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable colunm having a plurality of dies, of

means for revolving said column, means for feeding blanks to said dies, and means to form a blank in one of said dies, means to holda blank in another of said dies while performing another operation on the member, and common operating means for said blank forming and blank holding means.

2. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a; rotatable column having a plurality of dies, of -means for revolving said column intermittently,

means for feeding blanks to said dies, and means operated between each movement of said column I to form a blank in one of said dies, means to hold a blank in another of said dies while performing another operation on the member, and common operating means for said blank forming and blank holding means.

3. In the machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable column having a plurality of dies, of means for revolving said column, means for feeding blanks to said dies, means for form- 'ing a portion of said blanks at one point in the revolution of said column, means adapted to engage the formed portion of said blanks at another point in the revolution of said column for holding said blank while another operation is performed on the same, and common operating means for said blank forming and blank holding means.

4. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable column having a plurality of dies, of means for revolving said column intermittently, means for feeding blanks to said dies, a punch operated intermittently to form said blanks at one point in the revolution of said column, and means acting in consonance with said punch to hold the blanks in said dies by exerting pressure on the same at another point inthe revolution of said column while a further operation is being performed on said blanks.

5. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable column having a plurality of dies, of means for revolving said column intermittently, means for feeding blanks to said dies, a forming punch operated intermittently to form said blanks at one point in the revolution of said column, and a second punch operated intermittently to hold said blanks in said dies at another point in the revolution of said column.

6. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable column having a plurality of dies, of

means for revolving said column intermittently,

means for feeding blanks to said dies, means for forming said blanks at one point in the revolution of said column, means for attaching the formed blanks to a holding strip at another point in the revolution of said column, and means operated simultaneously with said forming means for holding the formed blanks in the dies while being attached to said holding strip.

7. In a machine for making fastener stringers of the class described, the combination with a rotatable column having a, plurality'of dies, of means for revolving said column, means for feeding blanks to said dies, a forming punch in the path of said dies adapted to form said blanks 

